Beloved theater musical performer Carol Channing passed away on January 15, 2019. While she didn’t have much in the way of frock flick roles, she made an indelible mark on me with her comedic charm and all the amazing Broadway soundtracks she brought to life. Here’s to you, Dolly!
Molly Wade in The First Traveling Saleslady (1956)
Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello Dolly (1964)
Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
How do you remember Carol Channing?
I read the word in her voice. There was such a memorable quality to it, there will only ever be one Carol Channing.
So long, dearie.
Not a San Francisco native, but close to. She was loyal and true, and full of joy.
I mostly remember her from the audio version of a Richard Scarry book. But also, Muzzy. Raspberries!
I remember listening to the Broadway soundtrack for Hello Dolly and wondering why they didn’t cast her in the movie. Because she created the role and would have brought something different to the movie. I’m not saying Ms Streisand was not great bc she was, but I’ll always wonder.
Muzzy was what I imagined Millie would be all grown up and rich. I always wanted her to have a bigger part in the film.
I never forgave the Streisand version for dropping the “Gallagher” and making Dolly stereotypically Jewish. Dolly is Irish, and the “Levi” is from her Viennese Catholic husband. The only Dolly who played it right on screen was Shirley Booth in the film version of “The Matchmaker.”
I saw her and Satchmo on Broadway in Hello Dolly in the 70s. I was a bit too young to appreciate what I was seeing then, but now I can look back and be glad.
The first thing I saw her in was a 1985 miniseries of Alice in Wonderland where she played the White Queen, sang a song about jam, and then turned into a sheep!
Oh the JAM song is just the weirdest thing ever, such fun!!!
Jam tomorrow, jam yesterday, but never never jam today!
Wow. I had no idea that Carol Channing had passed away. R.I.P., Ms. Channing.
I’ve never seen that first movie, but I’ve been a long-time fan of this clip from it!
https://youtu.be/J6fynEo5gYI
My favorite role of hers is the White Queen, though. Particularly during Jan Tomorrow Jam Yesterday.
Let us not forget that Carol Channing was the original Lorelei Lee:
This was a revelation! Thanks for sharing!